| Do you want to continue your costly, | | | | recruiters who are searching for candidates at |
| time-consuming and exhausting struggle in a | | | | these sites to fill their unadvertised positions.7. |
| frustrating job search using weak, ineffective | | | | Network your way to your next jobNetworking |
| tools that are getting you nowhere? The job | | | | takes communication to a whole new level. It is |
| market today is fiercely competitive with few | | | | more about who knows you than who you know. |
| high-paying or desirable jobs available. With | | | | Rather than specifically asking someone you know |
| repeated downsizings, companies have learned to | | | | for a job, you must communicate your unique |
| survive with less.Mediocrity has no place in your | | | | qualities to them. Networking produces results |
| job search process. To be a player among the | | | | that are quite amazing. Roughly 80% of jobs are |
| huge number of job seekers, you need an edge, | | | | filled through networking. Untold opportunities are |
| a unique compelling advantage.To be successful, | | | | out there; it's through a concerted and committed |
| you must differentiate yourself from the crowd. | | | | networking effort that jobs are found.8. Establish |
| You must use search strategies that put you | | | | appropriate recruiter relationshipsRecruiters do not |
| head and shoulders above your competition. You | | | | work for you; their allegiance is to their client, the |
| must possess knowledge and skill in your area of | | | | employer who has hired them to search for the |
| expertise, and know how to demonstrate that to | | | | best candidate to fill an unadvertised position. |
| the world. You may be the best candidate for a | | | | Recruiters are in business to help companies find |
| position, but someone better skilled at interviewing | | | | people, not the other way around. You can |
| gets the offer.Here are the strategies you need | | | | nonetheless formulate an approach for working |
| to use to run a successful job search:1. Determine | | | | with them. A good strategy is to gain visibility by |
| your best-suited careerYou need to sit down and | | | | posting your resume to the top career sites |
| assess your talents, strengths and core | | | | where recruiters go in search of candidates for |
| competencies, as well as what it is you truly want | | | | unadvertised positions. You can also use referrals |
| to do. It may not be enough that you have a skill | | | | as a way to meet with, and receive preferential |
| set in a particular area if you lack the desire to | | | | treatment from, a recruiter.9. Prepare for and |
| move forward in that direction. To be a | | | | have successful interviewsYou must be prepared |
| successful career builder and have a fulfilling | | | | to talk about your worth and accomplishments. |
| career, find your passion and do what you love. If | | | | You need to understand the fundamental |
| you don't, no amount of money will satisfy you.2. | | | | responsibilities of the position. Thoroughly research |
| Leverage your skills to the highest possible | | | | the company. Find out as much as you can so |
| levelYou may be a design engineering guru, a top | | | | you can ask the right questions and have a |
| marketing specialist or a graphics design genius, | | | | successful interview. Take your time in answering |
| but unless you know how to present your talents | | | | the interviewer's questions, and be concise. |
| -- in your resume and during your interviews -- | | | | Personality is ninety percent of the battle, so be |
| your expertise will go unnoticed. You must also | | | | sure to establish a rapport with your interviewer. |
| present your skills to the right person. A candidate | | | | Ask for the offer before the interview is over. |
| weaker than you will ease you out of an | | | | After the interview, send a thank you letter.10. |
| opportunity just because they spoke directly to | | | | Learn the art of offer negotiationsOffer |
| the hiring manager while you discussed your | | | | negotiations are an integral part of your job |
| candidacy with someone in human resources. It's | | | | search process. Negotiating is an opportunity to |
| not always the best candidate who receives the | | | | get what you truly want and deserve. It is a way |
| offer.3. Set yourself apart from your | | | | to significantly raise your standard of living and |
| competitionWith up to nine hundred candidates | | | | sense of self, simply by taking stock of what you |
| responding to one advertised job opening, it is | | | | have to offer and then capitalizing on it to |
| easy to lose oneself in the vast sea of job | | | | negotiate a higher starting point. Thousands of |
| seekers. You must learn how to differentiate | | | | dollars can be added to your compensation along |
| yourself from the crowd. Creating an | | | | with signing bonuses, added vacations, profit |
| attention-grabbing resume is a good start. You | | | | sharing and more. What you receive now |
| must also learn how to prepare for and succeed | | | | becomes your benchmark for future positions. Go |
| at interviews. Tapping the hidden job market and | | | | for what you are worth -- your life will never be |
| networking are by far the most effective | | | | the same!You can put time back on your side by |
| strategies for finding the right opportunities and | | | | following my suggestions for your success, which |
| getting ahead of your competition.4. Create an | | | | encompass all the tools and resources you will |
| attention-grabbing resumeOne of the best ways | | | | ever need for an enriching journey and a |
| to achieve this is to clearly state your value | | | | successful career. Treat yourself to the job of |
| proposition, your strengths and several uniquely | | | | your dreams and write your unique ticket to the |
| defined differentiators that set you apart from | | | | next phase of your career life!Copyright © |
| your competition. Add to that a set of | | | | 2005 TopDog Group All rights reserved.David |
| well-crafted accomplishments that incorporate | | | | Richter is a recognized authority in career |
| three critical factors -- the extraordinary task you | | | | coaching and job search support. He has spent |
| fulfilled, how you achieved it, and the results -- | | | | many years in recruitment, staffing, |
| and you have the basis for a winning resume.5. | | | | outplacement, counseling psychology and career |
| Write a captivating cover letterYour cover letter | | | | management spanning most industries and |
| is critical to your success. It sets the tone. It is | | | | professions. David founded TopDog Group in |
| read before your resume and includes vital | | | | response to the needs of job candidates to have |
| information about you that every potential | | | | a higher quality of career coaching and support |
| employer needs. If you don't have a cover letter, | | | | available on the Internet. David understands the |
| or if you have one that is poorly written, you're | | | | mechanisms for success. He has formulated |
| setting yourself up for failure. Knowing the crucial | | | | specific strategies anyone can use to secure |
| elements of a cover letter is imperative to | | | | interviews and receive offers. His extensive |
| moving your candidacy forward.6. Tap the hidden | | | | knowledge and experience sets David apart in this |
| job marketJob ads account for only a small | | | | field, allowing him to offer a wealth of information |
| percentage of all job openings available. | | | | and a vast array of tools, resources and |
| Seventy-five percent of positions are in the | | | | strategies not found anywhere else. He has |
| hidden, or unadvertised, job market. Unless you're | | | | shown countless job seekers how to differentiate |
| tapping this hidden sector of the market, you will | | | | themselves and leverage their potential to the |
| not be truly successful. Networking is one activity | | | | highest possible level, making a real difference in |
| which will lead you to uncharted opportunities. | | | | their careers. David holds both a Bachelors and |
| Posting your resume to the top job sites is | | | | Masters in Electrical Engineering, and a Master of |
| another. It will expose you to the employers and | | | | Arts in Counseling Psychology. |